Enabling a secure boot from non-volatile memory

ABSTRACT

A system may include a host that may include a processor coupled to a non-volatile memory over a secure communication protocol. As a result, prior to release for manufacturing, a binding code may be established between the host and the non-volatile memory. In some embodiments, this binding code may be stored on the non-volatile memory and not on the host. Then during a boot up of the system, the boot up process may be initiated by the host using code associated with the host, followed by secure booting using the secure protocol using code stored on the non-volatile memory.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/411,784 filed Mar. 26, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference, in its entirety for any purpose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This relates generally to processor-based systems and, particularly, to systems for enabling secure booting of processor-based systems.

Conventionally, processor-based systems may involve a processor and a storage that stores code for enabling the system to boot. In many cases, the processor itself may be capable of operating in a secure environment. However, communications between the processor and various non-volatile memories, made by entities other than the processor manufacturer that may be paired in systems with the processor, are not always secure. Thus, an interloper may affect the operation of the system by compromising communications between the non-volatile memory and the processor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific FIG. 1 is a circuit schematic for one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for a pre-market release security binding between a processor and a non-volatile memory for one embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a secure boot protocol in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a processor-based system 100 may include a host 10 and a non-volatile memory 20. The host 10 may include a processor such as a microprocessor, a controller or a digital signal processor. The system 100 may be any type of processor-based device, including a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant, a camera, an imaging device, a wireless communication device, such as a cell phone, a media player, or a set top box, to mention a few examples. The non-volatile memory may be a flash memory, a static random memory, or a phase change memory to, mention a few examples. In one embodiment, the memory 20 is a flash memory that has an execute-in-place (XIP) functionality.

In accordance with some embodiments, secure communications and secure booting of the processor-based system may be implemented using code that may be stored, at least in part, on the non-volatile memory 20. This may be done, in some embodiments, without requiring any permanent storage of code, keys, or other material on the host 10 itself.

Thus, in some embodiments, the host 10 may not need to be adapted by the processor manufacturer to the specific requirements needed to implement secure communications and booting with any particular non-volatile memory 20.

Referring to FIG. 1, the host 10 may include a controller 12, which may be a microprocessor in one embodiment. In one embodiment, the host 10 may be a chipset. A boot read only memory (ROM) 14, coupled to the controller, in some embodiments, includes basic boot code to boot the system 100. In some embodiments, the boot may initially be implemented with the boot code stored on the boot ROM 14, with booting continuing through the execution of code stored on the non-volatile memory 20 in the boot code storage 24.

The host 10 may also include a binding code storage 16. While, initially, this code storage may be empty, it may be any memory available on the host 10 to at least temporarily store information to enable secure communications and booting with the non-volatile memory 20. Thus, in some embodiments, the binding code storage 16 may be volatile memory (i.e. dynamic random access memory 20 (DRAM) and, particularly, system memory.

The memory 20 may also include its own controller 22 coupled to the boot code storage 26. It may also include the binding code storage 24 that normally stores the binding code after an initialization process with the host 10. Prior to distribution of the system 100, binding code may be stored in the binding code storage 24 to facilitate communications and booting between the host 10 and the non-volatile memory 20.

Specifically, referring to FIG. 2, prior to market release of the system 100, the pre-market release sequence 40 may be implemented. The sequence 40 may be implemented in hardware or software. In a software embodiment, it may be implemented by a computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor. The medium may be a magnetic, semiconductor, or optical storage.

The sequence 40 may be implemented prior to marketing or use of the system 100. For example, it may be implemented by the system manufacturer. In a software implementation, code for the sequence 40 need not be permanently stored on the host 10. Nevertheless, a secure communication protocol may be established between the host 10 and the non-volatile memory 20, as indicated in block 42.

In one embodiment, the host 10 may generate a bind command and parameters and send the command and parameters to the non-volatile memory 20. The bind command and parameters may be generated by the host controller 12 and may be sent to the target non-volatile memory 20. The parameters may convey the key type, for example, a keyed-hash message authentication code (HMAC) or other message authentication code or message integrity code, including the data authentication algorithm, message authentication code based on universal hashing (UMAC), cipher-based message authentication code. The parameters, in one embodiment, include X, g, and n, in the Diffie-Hellman key exchange algorithm and a tag to establish the association, location, or an identifier based on the implementation for the host identify a key in the future. X is equal to g^xmodn, where x is equal to a host-generated random number or pseudorandom number, and g and n are chosen according to the desired key type, key strength, and requirements of the Diffie-Hellman algorithm. The tag is implementation or system specific.

The host accesses a response from the non-volatile memory 20 and extracts the secret key from the response using the Diffie-Hellman algorithm in one embodiment. The key is then temporarily secured in volatile memory (VM) 15, for example, in order to enable secure communications between the host 10 and the non-volatile memory 20 in the pre-market release stage (block 42 of FIG. 2). The host 10 then configures binding code for host-to-memory binding, as indicated in block 44 of FIG. 2. The host may be provided with non-volatile memory specific code. The host encrypts the secret key. Then the host may encrypt and sign (by adding an identifier to the encrypted binding code data) the binding code. Signing the binding code may then be stored (FIG. 2, block 46) in a known location in a non-volatile memory 20 dedicated to binding code storage and, particularly, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the binding code storage 24. Thereafter, the system 100 may be sold or transferred to an end user who may attempt to boot the system 100.

In order to boot the system, the boot code 14, shown in FIG. 3, may be utilized. The sequence 14 may be implemented in hardware or software. In a software embodiment, it may be implemented by a computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor. The medium may be a magnetic, semiconductor, or optical storage.

Initially, the boot code may be stored in the boot ROM 14. The boot code from the boot ROM may be executed, as indicated in block 30. In response to execution of that boot coder a command to read binding code from the non-volatile memory 20 is issued, as indicated in block 32. Thus, the boot code reads the binding code stored at a known location on the memory 20.

The binding code is decrypted by the host 10 and then stored on the host in the binding code storage 16 (block 34). Then, the boot process continues by reading code from the boot code 26 on the memory 20 (block 36). In one embodiment, this code may be executed in place. A secure communication protocol can be established using the binding code storage pursuant to Diffie-Hellman or any other protocol. The non-volatile memory responds to the parameters from the host by generating a random or pseudorandom number y. The non-volatile memory 20 then generates and stores in its memory, according to association tag k′, where k′ is equal to X^xmodn, according to the Diffie-Hellman algorithm as the secret key of a key type. Then the non-volatile memory responds to the host with Y=g^xmodn. The response may request that the host perform a mastered read of response data.

A host device, upon receiving the response, calculates k′ equal Y^xmodn from known elements and values provided by the non-volatile memory to obtain the secret key k′. Then, a confidential immutable encryption key (HK) may be encrypt, separately or together, a block of secret key k′. This may be done using all non-volatile memory specific security code since it may not be desirable to store, in the host device memories, information used to support authentication and secure boot processes for particular non-volatile memories. A host-specific mechanism to trigger the execution of this step and manage the process of encrypting the key and code base to be stored may be managed by the host processor and, particularly, may be implemented by a suitable hook contained in the basic boot code stored in association with the host 10.

During the boot process, the host begins by executing code from its boot ROM 14 to access the encrypted blocks in the non-volatile memory 20, decrypt them and relocate the necessary code and secret key to the host internal secure volatile memory 15. Then that key and security code is used to authenticate the remaining code, data, and security characteristics stored in the non-volatile memory. As a result, the secret key may be transferred to the secure non-volatile memory in a secure fashion. Thus, an insecure factory environment may be utilized to assemble the secure system 100.

Security features in processors used in the host 10 may include substantial security capabilities to support that process. In some embodiments, it may be advantageous that the non-volatile memory be an execute-in-place device.

Thus, in some embodiments, it is not necessary to provide a secure factory environment for building the basic system. In addition, the processor is not burdened with any non-volatile memory specific security protocols.

References throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one implementation encompassed within the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase “one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be instituted in other suitable forms other than the particular embodiment illustrated and all such forms may be encompassed within the claims of the present application.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: transmitting, via a host, a bind command to a non-volatile memory; accessing, via the host, a response from the non-volatile memory to the bind command and extracting a secret key; configuring, with a controller of the host, binding code to enable encrypted communications between the host and a non-volatile memory including encrypting the binding code with the host using the secret key, wherein the binding code is configured to be executed by the host; and storing the encrypted binding code in binding code storage of the non-volatile memory, the binding code storage configured to store the binding code.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting, via the host, the bind command to the non-volatile memory includes transmitting one or more parameters indicative of a key type.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more parameters include at least one of X, g, or n in a Diffie-Hellman key exchange algorithm.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing a first boot code on the non-volatile memory; enabling a second boot code on the host to initiate a booting process and transferring the booting process to the first boot code stored on the non-volatile memory.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising executing the binding code to facilitate transfer of the first boot code from the non-volatile memory to the host.
 6. The method of claim 4, further comprising: reading the binding code stored in the non-volatile memory with the second boot code; decrypting the binding code with the host; and storing the binding code on the host.
 7. An apparatus comprising: a host having a volatile memory configured to store a secret key, the secret key extracted from a response to a bind command; a binding code storage configured to store binding code, wherein the binding code includes code executable by the host to establish encrypted communication with a non-volatile memory, wherein the encrypted communication is established using the secret key to encrypt the binding code at the host; a boot code storage configured to store boot code; and a controller coupled to the boot code storage and binding code storage, the controller configured to provide the boot code to the host via the encrypted communications and to provide the binding code to the host.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises an execute-in-place memory.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the host is configured to establish the encrypted communication via a Diffie-Hellman key exchange algorithm.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to provide the binding code to the host responsive, at least in part, to a request for the binding code from the host.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the request for the binding code from the host is initiated by a second boot code executed on the host.
 12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the boot code is configured to boot the host.
 13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises flash memory.
 14. A system comprising: a host configured to generate a bind command; and a non-volatile memory coupled to the host and including a controller, the controller configured to receive the bind command and generate a response to the bind command and provide the response to the host, the host configured to extract a secret key from the response to the bind command, wherein the host is further configured to configure binding code based, at least in part, on the response and provide the binding code to binding code storage of the non-volatile memory wherein the binding code establishes encrypted communication between the non-volatile memory and the host when the binding code is executed by the host using the secret key.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the host is further configured to generate one or more parameters indicative of a key type.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the host is further configured to generate an identification tag for the host to identify a key in the future.
 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the host is further configured to generate the bind command responsive to executing a first boot code on the host.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the non-volatile memory is further configured to store a second boot code for the host, and the host is further configured to execute the second boot code responsive, at least in part, to establishment of the encrypted communication between the non-volatile memory and the host. 